FSU coach Jimbo Fisher and his Miami counterpart, Al Golden, said Monday that the hit late in FSU’s win Saturday by Nigel Bradham on UM receiver LaRon Byrd was legal and that the FSU linebacker should not have been ejected.

Later in the day the ACC agreed, saying Bradham’s hit “was not to the head or neck” of Byrd and that no further action will be taken by the conference allowing Bradham to play in Saturday’s game against Virginia, the Noles final home game of the season and Bradham’s final home game of his career.
“He didn’t launch, didn’t leave his feet, hit below the shoulder, hit with the shoulder,” Fisher said Monday. “Everything football.”

Fisher also believes the first play of from scrimmage was a catch and fumble by Miami’s Allen Hurns. Lamarcus Joyner scooped up the ball and ran into the end zone but the play was overturned.

“I think both hands were on the ball, both feet were on the ground and he turned to take a step to make a football move and the ball was dislodged by us not by any bobbling of them,” Fisher said. “If that’s not a catch I’ve been wrong for 46 years.”

The calls made what could have been a blowout into a close game. If the correct calls were made, FSU would have had one more touchdown for sure and likely another and Miami would not have scored its final touchdown.

O’Leary’s key recovery

Fisher called Nick O’Leary’s recovery of Miami’s on-side kick in the final minutes, “as big a play as there was in the game.”

O’Leary came down with the ball after Miami had scored to pull the Hurricanes within four points.

“Tremendous, tremendous to go up and catch it with the fingertips, pull it in,” Fisher said. “His contribution was as big as anybody’s on the field making that play. It looked like he had it pretty clean right off the bat but they allowed the pile to occur.”

* Fisher on what impressed him most about his team: “Learning what the situations were, learning how to compete, learning how to play the next play no matter what the circumstances. I think that’s a tribute to how much they’ve grown this season. I think some of those things may have bothered them early in the year but they found ways to keep making plays and win. We didn’t always play our best in all three phases but at times did and found a way to scratch and claw out a win.”

* Fisher on game breaking freshman receiver Rashad Greene, who returned after missing four games with an ankle/Achilles injury and had three catches: “Hopefully he’ll be a lot more involved this week. He got his confidence back and made a couple of catches.”

* Fisher on FSU re-emerging in the polls and BCS standings: “I didn’t realize that until today. That’s a great thing. It is very good for your program. We can’t look at that and say OK but it’s definitely a good sign.”

* Punter Shawn Powell was named ACC specialist of the week. Powell punted five times for a 54.8 average, including four of more than 50 yards. Powell’s 47.1 average would lead the country but he is two punts short of qualifying.

* Florida State’s game at Florida on Nov. 26 will kick off at 7 p.m. and be televised by ESPN2.